Disclaimer: It's all yours, Jo. Just don't sue me.
Author's Note: This is my first story set post-HBP. I wanted to do one, but I have to speculate a little more before I can take on the task of writing about the Horcruxes, which are pretty fundamental to almost any H/Hr story. So the solution? A D/G story. I can very easily picture what I think Ginny's reaction will be to Harry leaving, since she's always described as "fiery" and what not. And with the Narcissa's part in HBP, I think it's very clear that she doesn't want her son to be a Death Eater. So this is the way I envision Ginny's 6th year going.
A/N 2: This is my first multi-chapter story at PK, so please bear with me. It will probably be at least 10 chapters, and I'll try to update as soon as possible.
Chapter 1: Letting Off Steam
As Ginny Weasley stepped off the Hogwarts Express, she didn't notice the beautiful September sunlight that bathed
Hogsmeade Station. She paid no mind to the crowd of bustling students around her, ready and waiting to start a new
school year away from the pain of the ongoing war. The beauty of Hogwarts' lawns stretched out in front of her as
she approached the gates to the castle was completely lost on her. Ginny was bound and determined not to let anything
ruin her foul mood.
She passed through Filch's security check and climbed into one of the school carriages, not particularly caring if someone decided to join her. The one person she wanted, after all, was probably half way around the world with her right now.
Ginny registered the sound of another person entering the carriage a moment before she saw their face. She then watched with mild curiosity as Luna Lovegood plopped into the seat across from Ginny.
"Hello!" Luna greeted her brightly, giving one of her hands a small wave. Several purple and orange bangles clinked together on her wrist.
Ginny regarded her carefully for a moment. Deciding Luna to be harmless, she gave a small, muffled, "Hi." in return, and then went back to staring moodily out the window. She knew she was being immature again. As her mum had made such a point of telling her through the last month of summer holidays, it was childish to stay resolutely "angry at the world." She didn't care in the least.
Luna didn't seem offended at all. They sat in silence for a few minutes, Luna not appearing to mind the lack of conversation as she studied the ceiling with great interest. Then suddenly, without warning, she blurted out, "I miss Ronald, you know. Like you miss Harry."
His name crashed against Ginny's ears, her head snapping around to meet Luna's eyes. She hadn't heard that name spoken aloud since Bill and Fleur's wedding, the last time she had seen him. But no, she wouldn't think about that, she had sworn she wouldn't.
Pushing those thoughts away, Ginny came to the conclusion that she could no longer ignore Luna's presence. She tried her best to be friendly as she asked, "Why do you miss Ron? You didn't even really know him."
"I like Ronald. He's very interesting." Luna looked thoughtful for a moment, and then added, "He's very good looking, too."
Ginny snorted loudly, trying to suppress full-out hysterics. She was saved by the sight of the front steps of Hogwarts, and their carriage coming to a stop to let them out. "Well, Luna, it's been nice talking to you, but got to run, you know, don't want to be late for the feast and all." she said, hopping down from the carriage as quickly as she could. No longer able to hold back, she nearly collapsed into a fit of laughter. Honestly, her brother, good-looking? And Loony Lovegood was the one who thought so? She could picture what Ron's reaction would be in her mind, his ears blood-red and his eyes wide and shocked.
Then his face changed, and a new image of Ron swam before her eyes, and he was just her brother, blue eyes bright and a smile on his face. She felt the familiar pang of longing. She missed him. He should be with her at Hogwarts this year, slacking on his N.E.W.T. studying and shoveling food into his mouth everyday.
Another image was flashing in Ginny's head now, before she could stop it, and it made her insides churn. Harry. The sight of his face made her forget every promise she had made to herself that she wouldn't think about him. Why did he have to be so bloody gorgeous? His black hair was mussed, oh, how she missed that hair. It was always so soft when she ran her fingers through it. His eyes, as she pictured them now, seemed to be an even more intense shade of that beautiful green. A small grin lit up his handsome features, the grin that he used to give her when she walked into the room. It shook her to think that he was probably now looking at another and sharing with her that beautiful smile. The smile that had always been reserved for Ginny.
Then her thoughts turned to her feelings. Ginny found it amazing that, at the beginning of the summer, her emotions had been consumed with thoughts of his safety, and how much she would miss him, and how brave and noble he had been to set off against Voldemort. Naivety was all that had been. She had put so much trust in that stupid git, had thought that it was heroic of him to want to leave her behind. She had even believed that he had only wanted to keep her safe, and that leaving her behind would cause him as much pain as it did her.
Now, after thinking all summer, after seeing him at Bill and Fleur's wedding, Ginny realized just how wrong she had been. He's just as head-over-heels for her as Ron has always been, and she had always been too blinded to see it. Ginny remembered Harry's first letter, written two weeks after the three of them left, which she had read so many times she could recite it almost entirely.
Dear Ginny,
How are you? I'm alright. We haven't seen any action yet, nothing dangerous or anything. The problem with that is that we also haven't accomplished anything. But I know we're on the right track, we just have to keep looking.
We did find out some important information, though. My Hermione really is bloody brilliant. She still amazes me. I swear she can do anything. We'd be completely lost without her.
Ron is fine too, and he's sending a letter home for your whole family, so you'll hear from him soon.
I miss you,
Be safe,
Your always,
Harry
The letters after that came less and less frequently, and had more to do with Hermione and what she had done to once again save their mission. Harry and Ron were hopeless when it came to her. And Hermione had no trouble leading Harry and Ron on. The tramp was probably now watching with amusement as both her best friends practically threw themselves at her. Or maybe she had finally made up her mind. If she had, there was no question which one was by her side and which one was standing in the shadows, a third wheel in what had once been an equal trio. Her heart went out to her brother, because she too knew what it felt like to be abandoned. As much as she loved Ron, he didn't stand much of a chance in a competition against Harry Potter.
She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she didn't notice she was walking into the Great Hall until she ran head-on into another student. Pulling herself up from the ground where she had landed, she was met with the sneer of none other than Draco Malfoy.
"Damn." she muttered, not believing her horrid luck. Of all the people….
"Well, nice to see you too, Weasel." Malfoy said, brushing invisible dust off his robes. "Not Potter's lap dog this year, eh? Or did he exclude you from his little crusade? More snogging time with the Mudblood, I suppose, if you're not hanging around."
Ginny felt red-hot anger welling up inside her, and a thousand and one comebacks ran through her mind. "Aw, what's the matter, Malfoy? The rest of your big, bad, Death Eater buddies didn't want you anymore? I suppose they don't want a wimp like you, I mean after all, you didn't even have the balls to kill Dumbledore, right?"
Malfoy stood where he was, all pretenses of being arrogant and treating Ginny like dirt apparently forgotten. His mouth hung open, and it appeared that he didn't have a snappy comeback for that. Ginny was glad, because now that she had started, she found it quite liberating to vent her frustrations on Malfoy.
"Or maybe you precious mum just begged you to come back to school? I'm told you're quite close to her.
But she can't protect you forever, right? Eventually your dear old dad will probably step in, and you'll be off
to the war, and then you'll be a bit surprised, I'd bet. No mother to protect you, no House elves waiting on
you hand and foot, no fancy dress robes and mansion parties. You won't have these goons-"
she motioned to Crabbe and Goyle, who were standing to the side and looking as thick as ever- "following you
everywhere and fighting your battles for you. You may act tough, Malfoy, but all you really are is a spoiled, rich,
brat, with a mouth almost as big as your ego. You'll be about as useful to Voldemort as a whiny two-year
old."
And with that, Ginny stomped past Draco and took her seat at the Gryffindor table, ignoring Malfoy's stunned expression, the piercing glares shooting her way from the Slytherin table, and the whoops and high fives of the other houses. It was going to be a long feast.